2008 Porsche Cayenne S Problems
- Complaints
- 5filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 111,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 15 mpgcombined, 4.8L 8-cyl 4WD/AWD · 13 city / 19 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Porsche Cayenne S (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2008 Porsche Cayenne S. The part named most often is engine, with 4 complaints (80% of the total), followed by fuel system (1) and transmission and drivetrain (1). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 111,000 miles. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 375 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 54 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Fuel system complaints overlap with 9 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine4 80%
- Fuel system1 20%
Example complaints
Engine: “I was driving on the highway. Accelerating as I was merging into the highway. I saw smoke coming out the back. Check coolant light came on. When I stopped I saw coolant everywhere underneath the car. The dealership determined the glue from the coolant tubes failed and needs to install new coolant pipes.”
NHTSA complaint #10917294, filed 2016-10, 98,000 milesFuel system: “The contact owns a 2008 Porsche Cayenne S. While driving various speeds, the engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel, high pressure, and pressure pumps failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by a dealer due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The contact was referred to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11129569, filed 2018-09, 120,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “On my 2008 Porsche Cayenne S ( purchased in march 2007) I have at least 3 times experienced a incorrect downshift initiated by the automobile in all cases the car/computer obviously wanted to shift down to a lower gear ( going up a steep hill at highway speed, traversing a steep parking lot at low speed) etc rather than shifting one gear the car seems to have shifted 2 or 3 gears at one time the engine revved to about 5000 RPM within the red line limits- very noisy and disconcerting I exited the problem by manually shifting to neutral which cleared the problem then back to drive I reported…”
NHTSA complaint #10313724, filed 2010-02, 10,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
20% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 98,000 and 120,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2008 Porsche Cayenne S version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cayenne S 4WD/AWD | 4.8L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 13 | 19 | 15 | $5,500 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 22V656000Aug 30, 2022Exterior lighting › HeadlightsCovers: Porsche Cayenne S 2003–2006, 2008–2009, 2011–2015, Cayenne 2003–2006, 2008–2017, Cayenne Turbo 2006, 2008–2016 +16 more
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2020 Porsche Macan, Cayenne, Panamera, and Cayman S, 2001-2004 Boxster, Boxster S, 2004 Boxster 50 JAHRE SPYDER 550 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all…
Recall details for the 2008 Porsche Cayenne S → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 375 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11037816Sep 22, 2026Transmission and drivetrain, Engine. Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C40 Engine Oils. Note that this bulletin covers all models back to model year 1984, for which C40 engine oils are allocated.
- 11037813Sep 22, 2026Engine, Transmission and drivetrain. Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C20 Engine Oils. Note that the bulletin covers all models back to model year 1984, for which C20 engine oils are allocated.
- 11037812Sep 22, 2026Transmission and drivetrain, Engine. Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C30 Engine Oils. Note that the bulletin includes all models back to model year 1984, for which C30 engine oils are allocated.
- 11037808Sep 22, 2026Engine, Transmission and drivetrain. Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche A40 Engine Oils. Note that this bulletin covers all vehicles from model year 1997 to 2020, for which A40 engine oils are assigned. Model…
- 11037868Sep 14, 2026Wheels, Suspension, Steering. Special Tools and Equipment Information for alignment machines - Q3 2026 Software Spec Update Available
- 11037795Sep 1, 2026Electrical system. Technical Information for Damage to Nano Plug Contacts Due to Utilization of Incorrect Measuring Equipment
- 11037085Aug 28, 2026Other or unknown. Special Tools and Equipment Information for Diagnostic Equipment Standards for all USA Porsche Centers
- 11037083Aug 17, 2026Suspension, Wheels, Steering. Special Tools and Equipment Information for alignment machines - Q2 2026 Software Spec Update Available
- 11037072Aug 14, 2026Other or unknown. Product Knowledge for Model Type Designations
- 11037071Aug 14, 2026Other or unknown. Product Knowledge for Chassis/VIN Numbering Systems
Other model years of the Porsche Cayenne S
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 6 | 85,000 | 2 | — | 18 | — | Not enough data |
| 2011 | 17 | 70,000 | 3 | — | 18 | — | Rising |
| 2008 | 5 | 111,000 | 1 | — | 15 | — | Not enough data |
| 2006 | 13 | 79,634 | 3 | — | 14 | — | Not enough data |
| 2005 | 10 | 74,800 | 4 | — | 14 | — | Not enough data |
| 2004 | 48 | 60,000 | 9 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Porsche Cayenne S model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Porsche Cayenne S have?
NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2008 Porsche Cayenne S as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2008 Porsche Cayenne S is reported most often?
Engine is named most often, in 4 complaints (80% of the total), followed by fuel system with 1.
Has the 2008 Porsche Cayenne S been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Porsche Cayenne S get?
The EPA rates the 2008 Porsche Cayenne S (Cayenne S, 4.8L 8-cyl) at 15 mpg combined, 13 city and 19 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,500 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Porsche Cayenne S reported?
Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 111,000 miles and the middle half falls between 98,000 and 120,000 miles; 20% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.